Teresa Scanlan

Beauty Contestant

Born: 6 February 1993

Birthplace: Colton, California

Best known as:

Miss America of 2011

Teresa Scanlan was only 17 when she was named Miss America of 2011. Teresa Scanlan was born in Colton, California, and then grew up in Gering, Nebraska, according to information from the Miss Nebraska pageant. She was homeschooled through her junior year in high school, then graduated from Scottsbluff High School in May of 2010. A month later, competing as Miss Southeast, she won the Miss Nebraka pageant. She went on to win the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas on 15 January 2011. Her talent was playing the tune "Whitewater Chopped Sticks" on the piano, and her platform issue was "Eating Disorders: A Generation at Risk." Scanlan is one of the youngest women ever to win the pageant, and is the first Miss Nebraska ever to win the Miss America title. She was succeeded by Miss America 2012, Laura Kaeppeler of Wisconsin.

Extra credit:

Teresa Scanlan was born on 6 February 1993, according to her Facebook page... She succeeded Miss America of 2010, Caressa Cameron... Teresa Scanlan had planned to attend Patrick Henry College in Virginia, but deferred entry after she was named Miss Nebraska in 2010... Scanlon is a fervent Christian who has spoken often of her faith. The week before the Miss America pageant began, she wrote in a blog post, "I know that this is exactly where God wants me to be, and He has a plan for each and every day of my life, not only this year, but every year... If I win the title of Miss America, I will know it is His will."